TRACE – Higher Education Cooperation with Ukraine

Protestant University of Applied Sciences Berlin (EHB) is actively expanding and strengthening its international collaboration through the TRACE project, an innovative initiative that places strong emphasis on trauma-sensitive and diversity-oriented approaches in higher education. In close partnership with Lviv Polytechnic National University (LPNU) in Ukraine, EHB is jointly developing and implementing new teaching and counseling formats designed to better support the needs of students and faculty at both institutions. This collaboration not only enhances academic exchange and mutual learning but also contributes to rebuilding and modernizing Ukrainian higher education in the challenging post-conflict context. By integrating trauma awareness and transcultural competence into relevant curricula, TRACE aims to foster resilience, empowerment, and inclusive educational environments for all participants.

TRACE (Trauma-Responsive Approach for Counseling and Empowerment) is a four-year initiative funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and supported by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). Starting in July 2025, the project aims to contribute to the rebuilding of Ukrainian higher education in the context of the Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, with special attention to trauma-sensitive counseling and diversity competence.

TRACE adopts a multidimensional approach, targeting students and academic staff at both partner universities. The project focuses on the co-development of innovative English-language teaching, learning, and publication formats related to trauma-sensitive and diversity-oriented counseling, delivered through both digital and in-person modalities.

Key elements include:

• Joint courses offered at both university locations
• Publication of the methods handbook
• Formative evaluation
• Mutual mobility opportunities for students and faculty
• Virtual exchange programs with standardized ECTS recognition
• Annual International Summer Schools hosted at EHB from 2026 onward
• Organization of and participation in international symposia and conferences
• Establishment of a sustainable alumni network
• Implementation of Train-the-Trainer programs

The educational content developed will be integrated permanently into the curricula of both institutions, creating long-lasting impact and fostering academic resilience.

In July 2025, the EHB hosted Professors Dr. Liliia Klos and Dr. Mariana Shkoliar from Lviv Polytechnic National University as part of the TRACE partnership. The visit featured a joint English course designed to enhance language skills and professional exchange, including scientific writing and current project themes.

The program also provided opportunities to compare study content and research priorities between the two universities, discuss future cooperation avenues, and deepen joint efforts in trauma-sensitive counseling. This included preparations for a handbook combining scientific findings and practical experiences from Germany and Ukraine.

The visit was rounded off by campus tours and personal meetings with EHB faculty and staff, enriching the partnership and reinforcing international solidarity.